BEAUMONT, Texas — Veterans, community organizers and city officials gathered Wednesday morning for the first meeting of the newly formed Mayor’s Veterans Commission at the Event Centre in downtown Beaumont.

Mayor Roy West said the group was created after several veterans approached him about the need for stronger local coordination among service organizations. “I had veterans walk up to me and say we need a veterans coalition here in Beaumont,” West said.

The three-member commission will focus on outreach and connecting veterans and their families to services and resources they may need. West appointed Beaumont City Council members Chris Durio, a Navy veteran, and Joey Hilliard, an Army veteran, to serve as co-chairs.

“I’ve chosen them to lead this coalition as co-chairs,” West said dur

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